Device having a slot capable of receiving at least four types of memory cards

• US 7,075,793 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2004
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Imation Corporation (Glassbridge Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Le, Trung V., Tapani, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S.
• Application Number:
  US10/815,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20040184246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 361/737, 361/787, 361/785, 361/760, 439945-948, 439630-631, 439/74, 439/377
• US Class Current: 361/737
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07741 comprising a first part operating as a regular record carrier and a second attachable part that changes the functional appearance of said record carrier, e.g. a contact-based smart card with an adapter part which, when attached to the contact card makes the contact card function as a non-contact card
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/121 the apparatus comprising a single recording/reproducing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0265 of PCMCIA type
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0291 for multiple cards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/945 Adapter for pcb or cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/948 Contact or connector with insertion depth limiter

Abstract

An apparatus, such as a reader, adapter, or other device, is described that is capable of receiving at least four different types of memory cards using a single slot. The slot includes a central region having a width to receive a memory card of a first type, first outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a second width to receive a memory card selected from a second type of memory card or a third type of memory card, and second outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a third width to receive a memory card of a fourth type. A plurality of electrically conductive contact areas are disposed within the slot. The apparatus may receive, for example, any of a Smart Media flash memory card, Memory Stick flash memory card, Secure Digital flash memory card, or MultiMedia flash memory card.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a slot to receive one of at least four different types of removable memory cards, wherein the slot includes;

a central region having a width to receive a memory card of a first type,

first outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a second width to receive a memory card selected from a second type of memory card and a third type of memory card, and

second outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a third width to receive a memory card of a fourth type; and

a plurality of electrically conductive contact areas to provide electrical contact with the four different types of memory cards.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the contact areas is disposed within the central region of the slot.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bias mechanism coupled to the housing to bias a memory card toward the contact areas.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bias mechanism coupled to the housing within the central region of the slot to bias memory cards toward a first side of the central region of the slot.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the bias mechanism biases a memory card to move the memory card a distance of at least approximately 3.5 mm from a second side of the central region of the slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an insertion stop within the central region of the slot to limit an insertion depth of a memory card of a predetermined width or greater.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing has dimensions substantially conforming to a size specification of a CompactFlash removable memory card.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the central region of the slot has a height of approximately 2.8 mm and a width of at least approximately 24 mm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the width of the central region is at least approximately 21.5 mm,

wherein the first outer regions extend the width of the central region to at least approximately 24 mm, and

wherein the second outer regions extend the width of the central region to at least approximately 37 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive interface for coupling to a memory card reader.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically conductive interface for coupling the apparatus to a connector for one of a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) bus, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, and a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) interface.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for converting signals received from the contact areas.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry converts the signals to conform to one of a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) bus, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), a serial interface, a parallel interface, and a small computer system interface (SCSI) interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact areas comprises:

a first contact area for electrically coupling to a Smart Media memory card;

a second contact area for electrically coupling to a Memory Stick memory card; and

a third contact area for electrically coupling to a Secure Digital memory card or a MultiMedia memory card.

15. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the housing defines the width of the central region to receive a Memory Stick removable memory card,

wherein the first outer regions extend the width of the central region to receive at least one of a MultiMedia removable memory card and a Secure Digital removable memory card, and

wherein the second outer regions extend the width of the central region to receive a Smart Media removable memory card.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises an adapter or a memory card reader.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electrically conductive contact areas disposed within a cavity to provide electrical contact with at least four different types of removable memory cards,

wherein the cavity includes;

a central region having a width to receive a Memory Stick removable memory card,

first outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a second width to receive a MultiMedia removable memory card or a Secure Digital removable memory card, and

second outer regions that extend the width of the central region to a third width to receive a Smart Media removable memory card.

18. A system comprising:

an adapter having a slot to receive one of at least four different types of removable memory cards, wherein the slot includes a central region having a width to receive a memory card of a first type, first outer regions that increase the width of the central region to a second width to receive a memory card selected from a second type of memory card or a third type of memory card, and second outer regions that increase the width of the central region to a third width to receive a memory card of a fourth type; and

a computing device having a port to receive the adapter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the port of the computing device comprises one of a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a serial interface, a parallel interface, and a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) interface.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a slot with a plurality of differently sized regions to receive at least four different types of memory cards, wherein the plurality of differently sized regions of the slot includes;

a first region having a first width to receive a memory card of a first type,

a second region having a second width greater than the first width, the second width being sized to receive a memory card selected from a second type of memory card and a third type of memory card, and

a third region having a third width greater than the first width and greater than the second width, the third width being sized to receive a memory card of a fourth type; and

a plurality of electrically conductive contact areas to provide electrical contact with the four different types of memory cards.